2009 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Obtain prior informed consent from provincial and national authorities in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to collect and export to the U.S., seeds and documentation of native Fraxinus species for the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. Collect documented accessions of Fraxinus species from native populations within targeted, forested areas of Shaanxi and Ganzu provinces of the PRC. Properly clean, package, label, document, and export collected germplasm and associated information to the USDA/APHIS facility at Beltsville, Maryland, for inspection and subsequent addition to the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Cooperator will obtain the required provincial and national permits for the collection and exportation to the United States of wild origin plant genetic resources and relevant documentation from targeted regions in Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces. Organize the Fall 2008 plant exploration in Shaanxi and Gansu Province for indigenous Fraxinus (Ash) species, as per the proposal. Have the collected germplasm inspected by the appropriate authorities in the PRC to obtain the Chinese Phytosanitary Certificate. Properly package the germplasm, herbarium vouchers, and documentation and either hand carry the material or have the material shipped to the USDA/APHIS facilities in Beltsville, Maryland. 3.Progress Report Explorations for Chenopodium were conducted in August and October 2008 in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Thirty-six accessions of eight total species were collected. These accessions are being added to the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System, where they will be available for use in breeding and other research. Monitoring of the project was accomplished through e-mails, phone calls, and written reports.